For My Sunday Song #120, I am discussing one of my favorite songs of 2018 called “I’m Not A Saint” by newcomer Billy Raffoul.  The song is from his 2018 E.P. called ‘1975’ which I did a review on a couple months back (go check it out – click here).  The song was released as a single, but sadly, I don’t think I have heard it on the radio which I find to be sad as the world is missing out on a real talent.

When I saw Billy Raffoul open for Needtobreathe over the Summer, I was really impressed with his Jeff Buckley sounding vocals and so I picked up the E.P on vinyl at the show (which he gladly signed for me) and it turned out to be one of my favorite albums I have heard this year.  This song in particular jumped out at me and I really connected to it.

The song is about the fact we all have things we do that we know we shouldn’t.  Some sort of vice that is keeping us from being what he calls a “saint” such as smoking, drinking and cursing (which is my biggest problem).  He states he could be a saint if he tried, but honestly, I don’t think he is going to try which is fine as there is nothing wrong with having a vice (well as long as it doesn’t kill you I guess it is okay.

The music is mostly acoustic sounding, it sounds gritty and I saw one description as smoky and that fits it perfectly.  His vocals feel like he has been drinking and smoking a lot as it has this added texture that flows so well with the lyrics.  At only 25 or so years of age, the maturity in his sound is incredible. Additionally, the song was co-written by Julia Michaels and she does the backing vocals on the song as well.  Julia has a Grammy nomination for her song “Issues” from 2017.

Check out the song below and let me know what you think.  If you dig it, go out and support this artist so we can get more music out of him.  Thanks and have a Happy Sunday!

“I’m Not A Saint”